Reciprocating sieve shaker apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus having one or more removable tiered sieve trays hydraulically clamped between sub-frames suspended from a vertically vibratory or reciprocating frame. This clamping means comprises a piston and cylinder at the bottom of the reciprocatory frame to push the sub-frames upwardly together, and is controlled by a foot operated pump mounted in the base of the apparatus. This reciprocatory frame is suspended on a base frame by a plurality of horizontally extending parallel arm or guide rods and is vibrated by eccentric drive means mounted in the base of the base frame beneath the reciprocating frame. The ends of the guide rods may be provided with resilient bushings; and resilient guide rolls may be disposed between the reciprocating frame and a housing part of the base frame for transverse stability. The eccentric drive means may be controlled by a timer and comprises a pair of oppositely rotating parallel shafts having eccentric weights angularly adjustable thereon to counteract the vertical vibrations of the reciprocatory frame and parts attached thereto.

United States Patent 1 1 Smith et a1.

[ RECIPROCATING SIEVE SHAKER APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Robert H. Smith, Columbus; Burl D. Tonjes, Malinta; Charles B. Leader, Napoleon, all of Ohio [73] Assignee: Gilson Screen Company, Malinta,

5 .Ohio

[22] Filed: Oct. 26, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 83,842

[56] V f References Cited 1 I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 3,003,635 10/1961 Wood .i "1... 209/365 X 2,730,236 1/1956 Missien..... 209/237 2,959,285 11/1960 Tonjes 209 319 3,050,777 8/1962 Siempelkamp... 100/195 X 2,142,581 1/1939 "winegarp. 100/195 X 3,439,300 4/1969 Tonjes 209/237 X 2,957,578 10/1960 Ball.....;..;. 209/319 X 2,828,014 3/1958 Wantling... 209/326 3,481,468 12/1969 Tonjes 1 209/237 192,107 6/1877 Blizzard. 209/346 X 464,776 I 12/1891 v P0110Ck 209/415 X 552,749 1/1396 Cortis 209/315 X 1,153,804 9/1915 McKinlay I 209/315 1,291,371 1/1919 B611 209/237 1,991,001 2/1935 Reynolds 209/346 X 2,075,097 Dawls 209/237 I 145 July 10, 1973 6/1938 McNeely... 209/415 X 2,119,595 2,370,717 3/1945 Christman 209/415 X 2,642,797 6/1953 Peters .1 100/195 X 2,597,503 5/1952 Larsson ..'209/367 FOREIGN PATENTS OR AP PLICATIONS 463,403 5/1951 Italy 209/365 443,374 4/1927 Germany 209/415 Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-Robert Halper Attorney-Hugh A. Kirk 5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus having one or more removable tiered sieve trays hydraulically clamped between sub-frames suspended from a vertically vibratory or reciprocatingframe. This clamping means comprises a piston and cylinder at the bottom of the reciprocatory frame to push the sub-frames upwardly together, and is controlled by a foot operated pump mounted in the base of the apparatus. This reciprocatory frame is suspended on a base frame by a plurality of horizontally extending parallel arm or guide rods and is vibratedby eccentric drive means mountedsin the base of the base frame be- 'neath the reciprocating frame. The ends of the guide rods may be provided with resilient bushings; and resilient guide rolls may be disposed between the reciprocating frame and a housing part of the base frame for transverse stability. The eccentric: drive means, may be controlled by a timer and comprises a pair of oppositely rotating parallel shafts having eccentric weights angularly adjustable thereon to counteract the vertical vibrations of the reciprocatory frame and parts attached thereto. 1 1

18 Claims, '5 Dravving Figures PATENIED JUL 1 3. 744.631

SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTORS ROBERT H1. SM 1TH BURL D. TONJES CHARLES B. LE D R ATTORNEY PATENIED mm mm 1 saw "a or 3 ROBERT BURL CHARLES RECIPROCATING SIEVE SHAKER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to means by which particles of solid materials are easily graded and assorted according to dimensions of their component sizes by passing them through one or more sieves and is particularly directed to separators which operate by vertical reciprocatory or vibratory movements.

2. Description of Prior Art The general nature of vibratory or reciprocating shaking apparatus of the type wherein this disclosure may be most applicable is described in U. S. Pat. No. 2,358,453 issued Sept. 19, 1944 to Seth J. Gilson, and U. S. Pat. No. 2,959,285 issued Nov. 8, 1960 to Burl D. Tonjes et a].

The Gilson patent describes a mechanism for vertically reciprocating a shaker frame vertically depending from a base frame wherein a stack of shaker screens or trays and spacers are held firmly together in the shaker frame by means of apair of long manually operable screw clamp rods which also must be manually unscrewed to unclamp and free the trays for their removal therefrom. I

The Tonjes et al patent also describes a mechanism for reciprocating a shaker unit vertically depending from a base frame wherein a stack of alternate shaker screens or trays and spacers is held firmly together in the shaker unit by means of a pair of long pull-type clamp rods and a pair of hydraulic cylinders which are controlled by a manually hand operated hydraulic pump and valve assembly unit on top of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, this invention embodies an improved mechanism for suspending and clamping sieves in a reciprocatory aggregate separator, such as used in laboratories to determine the amounts of different sized aggregates in a mixture. This apparatus generally comprises: a stationary base or main frame on which a reciprocatory frame is mounted, a drive unit such as a motor or other power source for driving a counterbalanced vibratory mechanism, and foot actuated hydraulic means for clamping sieve trays of aggregate to be separated in the reciprocatory frame.

Preferably the stationary base is enclosed with a removable housing for access to the reciprocating frame and its drive unit, which housing has doors at its top and front for access to the sieve trays. This stationary frame may have adjustable legs for leveling purposes. The electric motor drive unit is mounted in the base of this stationary frame and may be provided with a timer for presetting the length of time which it is to operate.

The vibratory mechanism imparts a substantially vertically reciprocating movement to the reciprocatory frame by means which may comprise an eccentric. This eccentric drive means may be provided with counterbalances such as two pair of complementary and vibration-opposing rotating eccentric weights to reduce the vibrations of the apparatus so that the stationary frame of the apparatus need not be secured to a support or the floor.

The reciprocatory frame or shaker unit is located substantially above the stationary frame so that it is easily accessible from all sides. This shaker unit comprises a rectangular reciprocating cage-type frame member and a plurality of rectangular sub-frame members suspended within and from the top of the reciprocating frame. Generally, each of these sub-frame members comprises a non-spilling removable screening tray or sieve and a movable tray spacing member which are stacked alternately. A stop rod depends from near each corner of the tray spacing members for suspending and limiting the movement of the tray spacing members below it.

An important improvement of this apparatus comprises two pairs of horizontal extending parallel arms or prises a compression bar movably mounted at the bottom of the reciprocating frame, which bears against the underside of the sub-frames for clamping the sieves and spacing trays together in a stacked relationship. Movement of this compression bar is actuated by a vertically mounted fluid operated piston mounted at the bottom of the reciprocating frame. This piston is extended and retracted by a foot-pedal operated valved hydraulic .pump means mounted in the stationary base and connected to the hydraulic cylinder for this piston through flexible ducts.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES It is a primary object of this invention to improve the reciprocating suspension construction of such a vibratory sieve separator, and to simplify the operation thereof, thereby producing an efficient, simple, effective, economic, clean, quiet, and self-contained screening device.

Another object is to provide such a screening apparatus having a vertically reciprocating vibratory or shaker-type mechanism, wherein a sieve shaker unit is clamped from the bottom by a relatively quick-acting, positive, efficient, and economical hydraulically actuated screen tray clamping means, which clamping means is actuated by a foot operated combined hydraulic pump and valve assembly unit arranged tosupply, control, and release fluid pressure through flexible ducts to or from the clamping means.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus which need not be fixedly secured to a stationary element because it is counterbalanced to reduce vibration.

It is a still further object to provide the housing with quickly removable dust covers, such as hinged doors, for the front and top access openings thereof to minimize the spreading of dust clouds during use of the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above mentioned and other features, objects, and advantages, and the manner of attaining them are described more specifically below by reference to the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: i

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vibratory screen sifting apparatus which embodies a preferred form of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1 with the front of the housing and its door broken away showing particularly the bottom clamping arrangement of the screen and tray spacers, and part of the vibration driving unit;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with the housing thereof removed showing the general assembled arrangement of the base frame, vibratory frame, and the vibration driving unit;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with parts broken away and the tray spacer members removed, showing the parallel arms or guide rods and the bottom clamping means located above the eccentric drive mechanism of the vibratory unit; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective of the vibratory drive unit with parts thereof broken away to show the counterbalances and eccentric drive mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The Stationary Base The sieve shaker apparatus shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 comprises a stationary or base frame 12 having a pair of vertical upright members or support columns 14 at its rear. This frame is provided with threaded adjusting feet 16 at each of its lower corners for leveling the apparatus. A substantially U-shaped housing 18 having opposite parallel side panels 20 and 22 may be provided to enclose the two sides and back of the base 12. The front opening may be closed by a hinged door 24 to provide access to the interior when loading and unloading a stack of screen trays 90 for a screening operation by the apparatus. The top may be closed by a cover 26 having a hinged door 28 for accessibility to the sieve shaker unit when supplying the screens with samples of aggregate to be separated. The doors 24 and 28 each may be provided with a handle 30 for convenience in opening and closing them, and fastening means such as clips or permanent magnets (not shown) may be provided to hold these doors 24 and 28 against their openmgs.

The Driving Mechanism A rotating means or drive unit 40 may be mounted on the base frame 12 and may consist of an electric motor 42 having a belt connection 44 to a sheave 46 which is mounted on and rotates a transverse countershaft 52 of a gear box 50 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) for providing a reciprocating motion to a reciprocating frame 70. A control switch 54 is provided to start and stop the drive motor 42. The control switch 54 may also include a timer which may be pre-set for controlling the shaking time for the reciprocatory frame 70. The gear box 50 comprises a drive shaft 56 parallel to the shaft 52, the ends of which shaft 56 are provided with eccentrics 58 carrying connecting rods 60 for attachment to the recoprocating frame 70 directly beneath its center of gravity for vertical reciprocating thereof within the frame 12. g

A vibration counterbalancing means may be provided in the gear box 50 to overcome the inertia of the sieve shaker unit or reciprocating frame assembly 70 (see FIG. 5). This counterbalancing means may comprise two pair of two equal weight rotary eccentric masses 62 and 64 which may be rotated in opposite directions by the gears 51 and 53 on the parallel shafts 52 and 56. These eccentric weights 62 and 64 are angularly adjustable or phased on their respective shafts 52 and 56 so that their resultant forces in the horizontal plane cancel each other out, and their resultant forces in a vertical direction diametrically oppose the vertical momentum of the reciprocating frame 70. That is, when the frame is up, the centers of mass of weights 62 and 64 are down or below their shafts 52 and 56, and when the frame 70 isdown, the centers of mass of the weights 62 and 64 are up or above their respective shafts.

The Reciprocatory Frame Within and over the base frame 12 there may be mounted a bank or stack of sieve trays 90 and tray spacers or support members 76 which are caused to vibrate collectively in a vertical reciprocating manner. This reciprocatory frame 70 herein comprises a top rectangular frame element 72, a spaced lower parallel U-shaped frame element 74, and a plurality of loose intermediate U-shaped frame or tray spacer elements 76.

The upper frame element 72 is normally supported at its central portion by two parallel depending legs 78. The legs 78 are suspended on one end of four horizontally extending parallel arms or guide rods 80 and the other ends of the arms 80 are connected to the columns 14 of the base frame 12. The connections, such as bolts or studs 81, at the legs 78 and the columns 14 with the ends of the rods 80 may be through rubber or resilient bushings 82 which permit a cushioned movement and a controlled leveling of the sieve trays. The lower ends of the legs 78 are connected together by two parallel cross bars 84 having transverse members 86 therebetween. Studs 88 are bolted through these transverse members 86 and journal the upper end of each connecting rod 60. As a result of the action of the eccentrics 58 on the other ends of connecting rods 60, the reciprocating frame 70 is caused to vibrate in a vertical reciprocating manner. 1

The side panels 20 and 22 each may be provided with a resilient guide roll 32 which bears against the adjacent leg 78 of the upper frame element 72, to limit and cushion any horizontal movements of the reciprocating frame 70.

When assembling a device of this type, a plurality of screen trays 90 and spacer frame elements 76 may be stacked alternately, one above the other, as viewed in FIG. 2 in a manner so that the coarsest or largest opening screen will be at the top of the stack, and the finest or smallest mesh screen will be at the bottom of the stack. These shaker screens or trays 90 may be formed as shown in the above mentioned Tonjes et al patent. A pan 92 is located belowthe screen trays 90 and is supported on lower frame element 74 to collect siftings and fine particles passing through the lowermost screen 90. Each of these screen trays 90 and pan 92 may be withdrawn from the front of the sieve shaking device 70 through the front opening of the housing 18 after its door 24 has been opened. The spacer elements 76 may be in the form of U-shaped channel sections following generally the conformation of the U-shaped housing 18. The edge flange section of the channels 76 and frame elements 72 and 74 may have openings 94 for passage therethrough of two pairs of stop rods 96. These stop rods 96 are provided with stop nuts 98 spaced along their length to limit the openings between the spacer elements 76 for loading and unloading the screen trays 90 and pan 92. Pull down springs 100 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) may be connected to lower frame 74 and the cross bar 84 to positively separate the spacer frame. When the clamp means to be described presently are raised to clamp the parts in their clamped position, the lower frame element 74 and the spacer frame elements 76 are elevated from the stop nuts 98, each in turn being lifted, until a compact clamped arrangement or stack of the trays 90 and spacers 76 is attained to form a compact sieve shaker unit.

The Clamping Mechanism A compression bar 110 is mounted for slidable movement in the opening formed between the cross members 84. This compression bar 110 has flanges 112 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) at each of its ends for engaging the bottom side edges of the lower frame element 74. A clamping force is provided by a fluid cylinder 118 having a piston 116 with a cap 120 sealed to the piston by single oil seal ring 122. This cap 120 bears against the bottom surface of the compression bar 110 and the piston 116 is seated on the cross bars 84. Thus the compression bar 110 can be moved upwardly to compress the lower frame 74 toward upper frame 72 to clamp the trays 90 and pan 92 between the spacers 76 so that the entire clamped together assembly reciprocates as part of the reciprocating frame 70. A flexible duct 126 connects the fluid cylinder 118 to a foot operated pump 130 (see FIG. 3) to supply it fluid under pressure. The pump 130 herein has a foot pedal 132 operating lever on a valved pump mounting to the front comer of base frame 12.

After a shaking operation has been completed and it is desired to, unload, avalve mechanism in the pump 130, such as shown in the above mentioned Tonjes et al patent, is operated by thefoot pedal 132 to drain the fluid cylinder 118 and thereby to unclamp the trays 90 and pan 92, so they can be removed from the frame 70 through the door 24 and their contents measured.

A pair of separator pivoted supporting dogs 102 (see FIG. 3) maybe provided on the cross bars 84 to hold the lower frame element 74 up in its clamping position, so that the compression bar 110 may be removed for servicing of the fluid cylinder assembly 118.

While there is described above the principles of this invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example, and not as a limitation to the scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for separating particles of aggregate material according to size comprising:

A. a horizontal rectangular base frame having elongated parallel vertical support members at two of its corners;

B. a vibratory screen carrying frame mounted for vertical reciprocation on said base frame and having two vertical parallel support members centrally of said vibratory frame and in alignment with said vertical support members on said base frame;

C. two pairs of parallel horizontal guide rods;

D. means for connecting one end of each of said rods to said base support member and for connecting the other end of each of said rods to said vibratory frame support members;

E. means for producing vertical vibrations for vibrating said vibratory frame,

F. counterbalance means having; oppositely rotatable eccentric masses mounted on parallel shafts journalled in said base frame and phased such thattheir resultant lines of force counterbalance the inertia of the vibratory frame, and t G. screening units incorporated in said vibratory frame.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrating means is mounted on said base frame.v

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrating means includes an electric motor.

4. An apparatus according to claiml wherein said vibrating means includes means for adjusting the time of operation thereof.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrating means comprises an eccentric means on a shaft joumalled in said base frame and a connecting rod pivotally connected between said eccentric means and said vibratory frame.

6. An apparatus a'ccoring to claim 1 further comprising resilient guides disposed between said base frame and said vibratory frame for imparting lateral stability to saidvibratory frame.

7. A sieve shaker comprising: t

A. a stationary frame having a rectangular base and elongated parallel upright members connected thereto at two of its corners,

B. a reciprocating frame having two centrally located vertical support members, aligned with said upright members of said stationary frame,

C. a plurality. of pairs of horizontal frames, 1

D. means for connecting one end of said arms to said upright members of said base frame, and means for connecting the other end of said arms to said vertical support members of said reciprocating frame for guiding said reciprocating frame,

E. rotating means mounted on. said base and connected to said reciprocating frame,

F. crank shaft means between said reciprocating frame and said rotating means for supporting and vertically reciprocating said reciprocating frame,

G. a plurality of spacer frames suspended one below the other from the top of said reciprocating frame limited in their movement toward and each other, H. a plurality of sieve trays 'removably insertable between said spacerframes, r l. hydraulic means mounted on said reciprocating frame for moving said spacer frames together for clamping said trays between them, and 1. pump means on said base connected by a flexible conduit to said hydraulic means for controlling the clamping and unclamping of said trays. 8. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a counterbalance having oppositely rotatable eccentric masses joumalled on said stationary frame andphased such that their resultant lines of force counterbalance the inertia of the reciprocating frame.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said rotating means comprises:

A. a pair of rotatable drive shafts joumalled on said base frame, B. an eccentric on one of said drive shafts, and

away from arms between said 14. A shaker according to claim 13 wherein said housing includes a door on one side thereof for access to said trays.

15. A shaker according to claim 13 including resilient guide means between said reciprocating frame and said housing.

16. A shaker according to claim 7 wherein said rotating means includes counterbalance means for reducing the vibration of said stationary frame when said reciprocating frame isin motion.

17. A shaker according to claim 7 including timer means connected to said rotating means for controlling the duration of movement of said reciprocating frame.

18. A shaker according to claim 7 including means for locking said spacer frames adjacent-each other for access to said hydraulic means. 

1. An apparatus for separating particles of aggregate material according to size comprising: A. a horizontal rectangular base frame having elongated parallel vertical support members at two of its corners; B. a vibratory screen carrying frame mounted for vertical reciprocation on said base frame and having two vertical parallel support members centrally of said vibratory frame and in alignment with said vertical support members on said base frame; C. two pairs of parallel horizontal guide rods; D. means for connecting one end of each of said rods to said base support member and for connecting the other end of each of said rods to said vibratory frame support members; E. means for producing vertical vibrations for vibrating said vibratory frame, F. counterbalance means having oppositely rotatable eccentric masses mounted on parallel shafts journalled in said base frame and phased such that their resultant lines of force counterbalance the inertia of the vibratory frame, and G. screening units incorporated in said vibratory frame.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrating means is mounted on said base frame.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrating means includes an electric motor.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrating means includes means for adjusting the time of operation thereof.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vibrating means comprises an eccentric means on a shaft journalled in said base frame and a connecting rod pivotally connected between said eccentric means and said vibratory frame.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising resilient guides disposed between said base frame and said vibratory frame for imparting lateral stability to said vibratory frame.
 7. A sieve shaker comprising: A. a stationary frame having a rectangular base and elongated parallel upright members Connected thereto at two of its corners, B. a reciprocating frame having two centrally located vertical support members, aligned with said upright members of said stationary frame, C. a plurality of pairs of horizontal arms between said frames, D. means for connecting one end of said arms to said upright members of said base frame, and means for connecting the other end of said arms to said vertical support members of said reciprocating frame for guiding said reciprocating frame, E. rotating means mounted on said base and connected to said reciprocating frame, F. crank shaft means between said reciprocating frame and said rotating means for supporting and vertically reciprocating said reciprocating frame, G. a plurality of spacer frames suspended one below the other from the top of said reciprocating frame limited in their movement toward and away from each other, H. a plurality of sieve trays removably insertable between said spacer frames, I. hydraulic means mounted on said reciprocating frame for moving said spacer frames together for clamping said trays between them, and J. pump means on said base connected by a flexible conduit to said hydraulic means for controlling the clamping and unclamping of said trays.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a counterbalance having oppositely rotatable eccentric masses journalled on said stationary frame and phased such that their resultant lines of force counterbalance the inertia of the reciprocating frame.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said rotating means comprises: A. a pair of rotatable drive shafts journalled on said base frame, B. an eccentric on one of said drive shafts, and C. a connecting rod pivotally connected between said eccentric and said reciprocating frame.
 10. A shaker according to claim 7 wherein said horizontal arms are mounted in resilient bushings at their ends to said frames.
 11. A sieve shaker according to claim 7 wherein said crankshaft means comprises an eccentric connection to said rotating means.
 12. A shaker according to claim 7 wherein said pump means on said base is operated by a foot lever.
 13. A shaker according to claim 7 including a housing mounted on said stationary frame for covering said shaker.
 14. A shaker according to claim 13 wherein said housing includes a door on one side thereof for access to said trays.
 15. A shaker according to claim 13 including resilient guide means between said reciprocating frame and said housing.
 16. A shaker according to claim 7 wherein said rotating means includes counterbalance means for reducing the vibration of said stationary frame when said reciprocating frame is in motion.
 17. A shaker according to claim 7 including timer means connected to said rotating means for controlling the duration of movement of said reciprocating frame.
 18. A shaker according to claim 7 including means for locking said spacer frames adjacent each other for access to said hydraulic means. 